When you're in the business of profiting from death, you don't have very many options for uplifting ads, but these seem especially bizarre.
While St. Louis Cremation's print ads from Town and Style St. Louis magazine don't necessarily imply the impending death of children, the use of cute kids evokes memories of Nationwide Insurance's uncomfortable Super Bowl commercial that referenced dead children.
The first in the campaign is a photo of a young girl overlaid with big, bold lettering: "Don't let the flower fool you / She'll be a teenager soon." The girl in the picture, according to The Riverfront Times, is the daughter of the crematorium's owner.
Facepalm.
The ads caused a stir of anger and confusion on the crematorium's Facebook page. To some, the ads may say, Hey, we know you're contemplating the inevitability of your death. Think of us! But to others, it's a more sinister Everyone dies! Even your kids! That's why we're here.
St. Louis Cremation released two other ads with the same tone before suspending the campaign on Feb. 1.
The crematorium issued a statement on Facebook saying they had "missed the mark" with the ad campaign.
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